This Bengaluru housing complex gets groceries via drones in under 10 minutes. Check details
According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the service has been introduced to enhance delivery speed, improve operational efficiency, and reduce traffic congestion within the gated community.
The drone service delivers goods in five to ten minutes, with operations running daily from 7 am to 8 pm. The cost to the customer remains unchanged.
'The delivery model involves a BigBasket storage facility within 5 km of the apartment complex. All orders for the community are routed through this facility. The drones, operated by Skye Air, have received DGCA approval, and the entire system is integrated for real-time tracking of drone movements,' said Avinash HV, Bengaluru Apartment Federation South President and a member of the Prestige Falcon City Resident Welfare Association, in a statement to HT.
The drones are satellite-connected and fly along designated 3D-mapped corridors, with coordination from agencies such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). They are camera-free, making them neighbourhood-friendly.
Deliveries are limited to packages weighing under 7 kilogrammes. A dedicated staff member stationed within Prestige Falcon City receives the drone packages and facilitates smooth handovers to residents. The system can batch multiple orders or send them individually, depending on demand.
Residents have noted a visible reduction in internal congestion since the drones replaced frequent trips by multiple delivery agents. The environmental benefit is another highlight: drone deliveries reduce the travel radius and help lower carbon emissions, especially in traffic-heavy areas where aerial distances are nearly half of road routes.
Ankit Kumar, founder and CEO of Skye Air Mobility, said, 'We are currently handling 40–50 orders daily, and in quick commerce, speed is everything. Our batching system boosts efficiency.'
Kumar said Skye Air plans to expand its services to 20 more housing societies across Bengaluru within the next three months, targeting areas like Jayanagar, Bannerghatta Road, and Electronic City. To support the expansion, the company is working on establishing a dedicated Skye Pod Network—infrastructure designed to enable residential complexes to receive drone deliveries directly.
Currently, Skye Air operates with two drones, but the firm aims to scale up to 25–30 drones to meet projected demand.
'A delivery rider typically manages 30 deliveries per day, earning about ₹ 800, while a drone can deliver 60 orders daily, effectively doubling efficiency,' Kumar said.
The company also plans to extend the delivery radius of its dark stores from 1.8 km to 5 km, reducing the need to build additional facilities and saving both capital and operational expenditure.
Despite its success at Falcon City, Kumar acknowledged the regulatory and enforcement hurdles. 'While we get airspace approvals from civil aviation authorities, one of the biggest challenges is dealing with ground-level enforcement, like informing local police under Drone Rules 2021. Navigating these local complexities is a crucial part of scaling,' he said.
Real estate experts, however, remain cautiously optimistic. According to Gulam Zia, Senior Executive Director at Knight Frank India, 'Regulatory clarity from both central and state authorities is crucial, as the use of drones in public zones currently lacks a comprehensive policy framework. Infrastructure, safety, and airspace coordination remain key concerns. Some gated communities may adopt drones in pilot phases, but at present, this remains experimental.'
He further stated, 'From a real estate perspective, its impact is minimal in the immediate term. Meaningful integration can only emerge once policies, infrastructure, and operational models are clearly established.'
Kumar emphasized that drone delivery will not entirely replace traditional quick commerce logistics. Instead, it is poised to complement existing systems, especially as automation and sustainability continue to influence future urban infrastructure.
'The aerial distance is nearly half of road routes, especially in traffic-heavy areas. We are looking to expand the delivery radius of dark stores from 1.8 km to 5 km in future, reducing the need for more dark store infrastructure and saving both capex and opex,' he said.
First Published: 2 May 2025, 08:09 PM IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Solar energy transforms remote villages in Gumla dist
Gumla: Solar power has illuminated many dark habitations in remote, challenging terrains and hamlets in the hinterland now. Important public places also have high-mast solar lights. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This became possible after a massive transformation was undertaken in the solar energy sector of the district by the administration in the last two years. These solar-powered villages are inhabited by PVTGs, and the tough, undulating topography made the traditional electricity connection next to impossible. Given the situation, the district administration took up a special initiative for solar power, and it has become a boon for these tribal communities. Talking to TOI on Tuesday, Gumla district planning officer Raman Kumar said, "Over 1,848 solar street lights have been installed in PVTG and other villages, while 153 high-mast solar lights have been installed at important public places across the district." Three main rural locations — Manjirapath in Bishunpur block, Jalhan-Sarango in Ghaghra block, and Naktijharia-Kobja in Raidihi block — now have mini solar power grids of 20 KWP, 10 KWP and 25 KWP, respectively, Kumar said. Moreover, nine villages of the district have been selected as solar model villages for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna of the Centre's new and renewable energy ministry. Among these villages are Bargaon, Nagar, and Sisai in Sisai block, Bharno in Bharno block, Fasia and Pugu in the sadar block, Chainpur in Chainpur block, and Navagarh in Raidih block. "These nine villages have 12,981 households and a total population of 62,267 people," Kumar said, adding that a time frame has been set to implement the scheme and a committee chaired by the DC would oversee the execution of the Centre's ambitious scheme. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative for solar power started during the tenure of former Gumla DC Karn Satyarthi, and the projects were executed by the Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Authority. Reacting to the initiative, Jyoti Behar Devi of Majhgaon village said, "The hilly regions have now electricity from solar lights for the first time." Kamla Kacchap of PVTG-inhabited Narma panchayat in Bishunpur block also told TOI, "Our panchayat now has solar street light at the thoroughfares. We feel safe while moving around at night, and sometimes villagers hold meetings under the solar light. Our panchayat has nine revenue villages and 22 hamlets, all located in Netarhat Plateau's tough terrain."
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Vashi bus depot remains unused for a year, leaving commuters inconvenienced
Navi Mumbai: Commuters are expressing frustration as Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has not opened the Rs 190-crore bus depot despite its completion a year ago. The existing Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) bus depot at Sector 9-A, Vashi, was shut down in October 2019 for the construction of a terminal, forcing commuters to queue on main roads for buses in heavy rain and scorching sun. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Under mounting pressure, the civic administration is considering opening the facility before the Ganesh festival. A citizens' forum called Human Chain has written to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking his intervention. "It is a matter of shame for Navi Mumbai, touted as the city of the 21st Century, that the taxpayers are made to wait on the roadside without any shelter," said Human Chain Convenor B N Kumar, questioning when the commuters will get freedom from these worries. Civic authorities earlier announced that the Vashi bus facility would be inaugurated on Republic Day in 2023, but NMMT missed all subsequent deadlines. NMMC Commissioner Kailas Shinde said that he has sought the Chief Minister's slot to inaugurate the terminal. "Though the contract is being finalised for leasing out the entire complex, we will at least open the bus depot for the commuters well before the Ganesh festival so that the devotees heading towards their native places can board the buses from the depot." Airoli MLA and Forest Minister Ganesh Naik previously stated that the depot would open by the monsoon. NMMC has invested over Rs 190 crore from taxpayers' funds in constructing the 21-floor bus depot-cum-commercial complex. However, residents highlighted the issue of the massive structure remaining unused. "It is a criminal waste of money that the building is not netting any gains to NMMT," Kumar said. He added that the civic body could have earned Rs 14.25 crore a year even at a savings bank interest rate of 7.5%. Kumar has long questioned the decision to launch the 21-storeyed complex amid a glut in office spaces in the city. Two major malls on Palm Beach Road have been converted into shopping-cum-office complexes. Vashi-based homemaker Vibha Syunry pointed out that the bus depot, equipped with shaded stands for different routes, is much more convenient for people than the current confusing system that forces them to wait in dust, rain, or sun. "This is commonsense which does not seem to work," she said. Civic rights activist Madhu Shankar wondered what local political leaders, both former and aspiring corporators, are doing about the depot facility. "Sadly, the people are left to fend for themselves," she lamented. Senior citizens, women, and children are compelled to rush for buses amidst utter confusion, said real estate consultant Naresh Shah. Commuters said that the bunching of buses also creates traffic snarls between Shivaji Chowk and the fire brigade signal.
India.com
10 hours ago
- India.com
Tariffs, Sanctions, Threats Won't Work: India Sends US A Clear Message From Moscow
Moscow: India has sent out one of its clearest signals yet to Washington. Speaking in Moscow, Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar said that the friendship between India and Russia has stood the test of time and will not bend under pressure from tariffs or sanctions. He stressed that this is a relationship that has matured over decades and now stretches across every vital sector, from defence to nuclear power, from energy to space and from pharmaceuticals to transport. Kumar underlined that the Kudankulam nuclear project in Tamil Nadu remains a cornerstone of this cooperation. Russia's state atomic company Rosatom is building six reactors at the site. Two of them are already generating power, and work is progressing steadily on the rest. The ambassador said that this is not merely a nuclear project but a sign of long-term trust and joint capability. The envoy also pointed to the BrahMos missile as one of the proudest examples of India-Russia partnership. Built jointly by both countries, the missile has already seen use in combat and is now being sought by nations around the world. 'It is a shining symbol of what India and Russia can achieve together,' Kumar said, adding that it has placed both countries at the center of a global defence conversation. Speaking to Sputnik, the ambassador highlighted that the two countries are moving well beyond the traditional buyer-seller model. 'Today, the idea is to manufacture together in India, and then export to other markets. Indian companies are also active inside Russia itself,' he explained. On the political front, Kumar described the rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin as one of the defining factors in the relationship. 'The chemistry between the two leaders is visible both in front of the cameras and behind closed doors,' he said, crediting that bond with keeping ties stable even in turbulent times. The ambassador was firm on the subject of energy imports. He made it clear that India will continue to buy Russian energy despite outside pressure. 'This is clear and beyond doubt. Our priority is securing India's energy needs, and no threat or pressure will alter that,' he said. Beyond trade, Kumar pointed to cultural connections. He reminded that between 50,000 and 60,000 Indians live and work in Russia, while many Russians show keen interest in Indian culture, music, and traditions. This, he said, gives the relationship a depth that goes far beyond geopolitics. The coming months are set to be significant. President Putin is expected to visit India later this year. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will travel to Moscow ahead of the trip to finalise details. The Putin visit is likely to see the signing of major agreements worth billions of dollars and will mark Putin's first trip to India since the Ukraine war began. The backdrop to these developments has been sharp criticism from Washington. Earlier, the United States imposed a 25 percent secondary tariff on Indian goods in response to India's oil trade with Russia. Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro has gone further, urging India to halt Russian oil imports completely. He argued that India should behave like a strategic partner and accused New Delhi of leaning too close to China. He also questioned whether the United States should continue supplying advanced weapons technology to India. Adding to the tensions, a planned visit by a U.S. delegation to India for trade talks has now been cancelled. For New Delhi, however, the message from Moscow is firm: India will keep its course with Russia, no matter the pressure.
